On May 20th, 1993 President Bill Clinton signed the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993. This requires each state to create voter
registration procedures for registering while applying for (or
renewing) a driver’s license, mail registration, and in-person
registration. In addition, the act authorizes states to require
first-time voters to vote in-person if they do not have an extenuating
circumstance and requires states to designate voter registration
agencies. Furthermore, the act creates several procedural regulations
for the registration process and prevents states from removing voters
from the registration rolls if they fail to vote or move (barring
written notification of the move, or failure to respond to a notice
from the registrar). Finally, the act requires the U.S. attorney to
notify the state’s chief election official of all felony convictions,
requires each state to designate a chief election official, and creates
criminal penalties for anyone who tries to manipulate the voting or
registering process.

This act has had a significant impact on voter registration. In the
first quarter of 1995 (when the act was implemented), two million new
voters were registered. Georgia registered 180,000 voters in a
three-month period, compared to 85,000 for the entire preceding year.
In the first quarter, Florida registered 400,000. In addition, during
the first year of implementation, 40% of newly registered voters were
under the age of 30. Finally, the two-year period after implementation
witnessed one of the largest registration increases in American
history. Indeed, the National Voter Registration Act has been
instrumental in broadening the base of American democracy.

"Most Californians register to vote not because a political cause has touched their heart, but rather because they checked a box on a form at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they received or renewed their driverís license."